Advice line fields almost 10,000 queries on food safety

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) dealt with almost 10,000 queries in 2009, it announced today.

Of those, 27% were from people reporting issues concerning poor hygiene standards, unfit food and suspected food poisoning.

In total, 1,981 complaints from consumers were lodged last year, the FSAI said.

The data shows that contamination with insects, hair, pieces of skin, glass and rodent droppings were the most common type of complaints concerning unfit food.

“Consumers are more aware of the risk to their health from unsafe food and many calls to the advice line are from people who have eaten in a food premises with questionable hygiene standards or when they feel that they have become ill due to food that they have eaten," said spokesperson Edel Conway.

"We would encourage all those who witness or observe unsatisfactory food standards to view the FSAI advice line as a vital resource of information, which will respond immediately to all complaints and queries received."

The FSAI advice line, on lo-call 1890 33 66 77 or [e-mail], operates from 9am to 5pm weekdays.